Laminated timer insulation



April 15, 1930. A. ALEXANDER LAMINATED TIMER INSULATION Filed Jan. 4. 1926 Patented Apr. 15, 1930 PATENT FFHCE LOUIS A. ALEXANDER, TOLEDO, OHIO LAMINATED TIMER INSULATION Application filed January 4, 1926.

This invention relates to features of built up insulation, more particularly as a mounting for a plurality of'terminals.

This invention has utility when incorporated in insulation mountings for the contacts of timers as in ignition systems, especially such as are used for multiple cylinder internal combustion motors.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view looking into a terminal carrying housing, the terminals of which are mounted by insulation in accordance with the invention herein, parts being broken Fig. 2 is a section on the line II-II, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View of a sheet of thin fiber stock showing the economy in cutting the rings and segments therefrom;

Fig. 4 is a view of a ply as assembled by an annular series of segments;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of said annular series of segments as assembled between a pair of laminated rings; and

Fig. 6 is a view of a three-ply assembly of Fig. 5 with the spacing between the segments dressed or drilled to provide a terminal seat, which may be done before or after assembled in the housing.

The instance of this disclosure is such a timer, as to number of terminals, as is adapted to four cylinder type of motors for automobiles, as of the manufacture by Ford Motor Company. Such timer, in current practice is provided with a housing 1 having a circular seat 2, with which communicate a series of openings 3 through this housing 1.

Herein laminations 4 of ring form are provided, which have from the inner wall cutout seats 5 for portions of terminals 6. The terminals 6 are each sli htly larger than a seat 5 of a lamination. These insulation full ring laminations 4 are assembled as the outer ply or outer plies. In practice, such dimension may be slightly in excess of such terminals. These terminals 6 as forced into the assembled seats 5, have stems 7 which herein pass through dressed or finish drilled openings 8 between ledge termini 9 of segments 10. These segments 10 are herein assembled in spaced relation to provide a diameter ap- Serial No. 79,124.

proximating that of the rings 4 which, with the ledges 9, make these segments 10 spaced apart at such ledges with terminal seat portions 11 of the separate segments 10 less than one half of the extent of the terminal seats 5 of the rings 4.

The stems 7 from the terminals 6 extend through bushings 12 at the openings 8 and have insulation flanges 13 held on the stems 7 by nuts 14. The terminals 6 with their stems 7 are accordingly completely insulated by the laminations 4 and bushings 12, 13, from the housing 1. In the operation of the timer, contactor roller 15 travels over the terminals 6 in succession, and between such terminals 6 rides on the laminated inner edges of the insulation rings 4 and segments 10.

In the building of the insulation ring from laminations 4 there is considerable economy. as well as an article of superior qualities throughout. In practice this insulation is of fiber and of rigid form, resisting wearing. The relatively thin stock, compared with the completed thickness of the laminated insulation ring, is such that these laminations 4 are approximately uniform in compactness and character of the material throughout, in this respect differing from heavier stock, or rather the stock of greater thickness. The thinner stock is of less cost per pound to manufacture, so that the cost of the material bulk in the completed ring is less. Owing to the relative thinness of this stock, the ring laminations 4 with the seats 5 may be punched out accurately at low cost to provide a symmetrical inner face or wall. The built up insulation from these laminations 4 and segments 10 is homogeneous, physically better, and. electrically a superior insulation.

The punched laminations 4 are preferably assembled as to outer ply or plies with the inher ply or plies of the annular series of segments, the piles being built up in number to the desired thickness, pressed into the seat 2 of the housing 1, and there clamped in the position which the completed insulation ring is to have with the segments spaced in the region of the terminals at the ledges 9 which are dressed to provide openings 8 with which the terminals are assembled, and then the insulation and terminal inner faces may be dressed to provide continuous endless surface or track for the contactor roller 15.

The direction of the extent of the fiber in the different complete rings is preferably oifset. This is a material factor for increased wear resistance to the roller 15, for the end of the fiber is more firm and is present for the entire course of such roller 15.

In the production of the material hereunder from thin sheet stock 16, the cuttings for the rings may be disposed to have the spacing between seats 5 as to opposing sides directly crosswise of the extent of the fiber. Center or cut-out portion 17 from the rings 4 may have the segments 10 as grouped therein also to provide the end grain of the fiber for the wear faces. Accordingly, in the three-ply type of insulation ring for a timer with the outer rings as continuous rings 4, the outer rings may be shifted from each other to have the end grain of the fiber of these two rings a matter of continuity between the terminals, while there is continuous end grain eX- posed for the entire segmental ring as built up from the sections 10. The cut-outs 17 as thus providing stock for the segments 10, which may be out before, simultaneously with or after the rings 1- according to the type of die used, means a very material saving in stock with the production of superior insulation not only in the continuity of the end grain for the entire periphery in this central or major wear surface of the insulator, but the advantage is retained of the uniformity of texture of the thin fiber sheet. Furthermore, the spacing between the ledges 9 of the segments reduces the expense of drilling or forming the seat 8 for the terminal stems 7.

The great manufacturing value of the invention of this disclosure is in lowering of the cost in quantity production, with a superior article as the result. In the practice of this invention, there is produced a laminated raceway for a timer of increased wear resistance. Cut-outs are utilized for the segments as a material factor in cost reduction in a high quality product of uniform character throughout. The contact faces 6, being of a width equal to the raceway, prevent bumps and irregularities due to wear.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

A multi-terminal timer housing peripherally spaced sectional insulation end grain se ments, and terminals between the segments completing with the segments an annular path.

In witness whereof I my signature.

LOUIS A. ALEXANDER. 

